JP2000054719A - Hinge-assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hinge, for which a built-in type hinge used in a miniaturized foldable device such as a portable wireless telephone is employed and in which the number of parts and cost are inhibited minimally. SOLUTION: The hinge-assembly 2800 is used for a wireless communication device 100 with a main body 104 and a cover 102 containing a barrel 216 and integrally formed on the barrel. The hinge-assembly 2800 has a follower 2802, a cam 2804 combined with the follower 2802 and a spring 2806 connected to the cam 2804 and wound around the segment of the follower 2802. Hinge parts are assembled completely, and can be incorporated separately from the manufacture of the wireless communication device 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for hingedly mounting a foldable portable wireless communication device housing. The present invention covers a wide range of applications, but is particularly suited for use in hand-held radiotelephones,
It is particularly described in that connection.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of portable radiotelephones is growing and allows users to make telephone communications over wireless systems virtually anywhere. Cellular phones transmit low wattage radio frequency signals to receiving stations that are connected to conventional landline telephone systems.

[0003] The two housings are joined by some sort of hinge that can fold over each other.
Portable radiotelephones having two housings are well known in the art. Such foldable radiotelephones have most of the electronic components in one housing, called the main housing, and fewer electronic components in the other housing. Some of these foldable wireless telephones have all the electronic components in the body and the cover only covers the telephone keypad or keypad and display.

As shown in FIG. 6, such a known portable cellular radio telephone has a spring 6 disposed in a cylindrical hinge arm 624 formed at one end of a cover 606.
Some utilize H.42, hinge pins 636,648, and a bushing 660 formed in body 612.
A spring 642 is placed between the hinge pins 636 and 648 and urges the hinge pins 636 and 648 outwardly from the cover 606 relative to the body 612. An example of such a well-known wireless telephone is PCT published September 16, 1993.
Nos. WP93 / 18592 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,882 issued Jan. 4, 1994.

While suitable for certain foldable radiotelephones, such hinge mechanisms described above are not suitable for miniaturized foldable radiotelephones. The housing of the miniature radiotelephone does not have sufficient volume and material strength to withstand the compressive force directed outward of the spring. Also, the smaller the housing, the more difficult it is to incorporate the hinge element.

No. 5,628,0 issued to Wilcox et al. On May 13, 1997, assigned to Motorola.
No. 89: Radiotelephone Having a Self Contained Hin
ge "discloses a hinge for a miniature radiotelephone. The hinge incorporates a spring, cam and follower into the cylindrical hollow can through its open end and is held in the assembly by a cap coupled to the can on the open end. Assembly hinges in the can are located within the cavity of the cover and the cavity of the body. Built-in hinges are desirable for some wireless telephone manufacturers because they can be purchased as separate units,
This is because the step of incorporating the hinge during the manufacturing can be eliminated. However, since the hinge includes a can for holding the hinge parts together, the number of parts used increases and the price of the hinge increases.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a built-in hinge for use in miniaturized foldable devices such as portable radio telephones, which minimizes the number of parts and the cost of the hinge.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a hinge assembly for a small wireless communication device such as a portable radiotelephone. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge
The assembly includes: a follower; a cam rotatably coupled to the follower; and a spring coupled to one end of the cam and wound around a segment of the follower.

[0009] The hinge structure of the present invention eliminates a separate housing for holding the hinge components within the assembly, thereby reducing the cost and complexity of the hinge. Other advantages and novel features of the invention are set forth in part in the description which follows, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described. Hereinafter, embodiments constructed according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0010]

The following detailed description is for purposes of illustration and description only, and is not intended to limit the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Reference is made to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of a foldable portable radio telephone 100 embodying the present invention is shown in FIGS. The portable radiotelephone has two parts, a cover 102 and a body 1.
04. In the drawing of FIG. 2, the cover 102 is "open".
Position, and the user of the wireless telephone 100
2 shows a state in which a sound can be heard through the microphone 2 and the microphone 204 can be spoken. The body contains 1 to 0, #,
* Includes a keypad 206 having a plurality of buttons 208 arranged in a regular telephone arrangement. Keypad 206
Also has additional buttons 208, such as power, functions, other buttons for sending and calling a telephone number. The main body 104 also has an antenna 106 (FIG. 1) that enables wireless communication between the radiotelephone 100 and a base station (not shown) of the cellular radiotelephone system. The main body 104 further includes a port 210 for connecting the wireless telephone 100 to peripheral devices such as a battery charger and an external antenna, a keypad, a speaker or a microphone.

As embodied herein and shown with reference to FIG. 3, hinge assembly 2800 includes cover 1
02 is joined to the main body 104 (FIG. 1). Hinge 2800, which will be described in detail below, is shown fully assembled in the front view of FIG. 3 and exploded in the isometric view of FIG. Wireless telephone 10 of FIG. 1 in a closed position
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled hinge 280.
Indicates a bond of 0. When the radiotelephone is assembled, hinge 2800 is placed on barrel portion 216 of cover 102.
The cover 102 in which the hinge 2800 is stored is the main body 1
04 is rotatably coupled between two joints 212, 214 (FIG. 2). Due to the design of the hinge 2800, the cover 102 can be positioned in the closed position shown in FIG.
06 and at an obtuse angle in the open position shown in FIG.

An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the components are assembled independently of the radiotelephone housing. When assembling the hinge 2800, when assembling the hinge 2800 in the wireless telephone 100, the assembler can handle an assembled component group instead of individual components. Also, unlike the hinge assembly disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,628,089, the hinge assembly 2800 of the present invention.
Does not include a separate element for holding the hinge parts in the coupled state.

The details of the hinge assembly 2800 will be described. Referring to FIG. 3, hinge assembly 2800
A stationary element such as a follower 2802 and a cam 2804
And two movable elements, such as a spring 2806, and two friction washers 2808, 2810 and rod 2812 held in engagement, resulting in a self-contained hinge assembly 2800.

Referring to FIG. 4, hinge assembly 28
An exploded isometric view of the 00 preferred embodiment is shown. The follower 2802 has three integral parts: preferably Y
It comprises a connector 2901, a body 2903 and a shaft 2905, which are in the shape of a letter or other suitable shape. Preferably, the follower 2802 is injection molded using an acetal resin or Teflon material commercially available from a number of vendors. The Y-shaped connector 2901 is
To the aperture (not shown) in one of the joints 212, 214. The aperture is configured to house the Y-shaped connector 2901 and lock the hinge assembly in place.

The follower body 2903 has a flat bottom surface 29.
02 and cylindrical portion 2907 having flat top surface 2911
Is formed. Multiple, preferably two, tabs 2913
(Only one is shown) is the upper surface 2 of the follower body 2903
911. The tab 2913 is a flat first surface 2
915 and a curved second surface 2917. In the preferred embodiment, tabs 2913 are spaced 180 degrees from each other. The cylindrical shaft 2905 is also coupled to the upper surface of the follower main body 2903, and is stored between the tabs 2913.

The shaft 2905 preferably includes a three-dimensional portion 2919 and a portion composed of a plurality of equally spaced spring holding teeth 2921 arranged in a circle. Spring holding tooth part 2
The number of 921 is preferably three. Each tooth 2921
Preferably form a lip 2923 at one end of the tooth.
The rod 2812 is connected to the teeth 2921 so that the outer diameter of the shaft 2905 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the spring 2806.
And the inner surface of each tooth is pressed firmly against the rod 2812. The rod is preferably made of ABS.

The cam 2804 is preferably injection molded using Teflon-filled resin commercially available from a number of vendors, and is generally cylindrical and hollow. One end of the cam 2804 forms a flat ring surface 2925. Cam 280
The other end of 4 is shaped into a contour having peaks 2929 and valleys 2931 (shown in FIG. 3) that match the upper surface 2911 of the follower body 2903. During assembly of the hinge parts, the cam 28
The contour end 2927 of 04 is inserted over the follower shaft 2905 and the follower tab 2913 is received within the valley 2931 of the cam 2804 as shown in FIG.

The cam 2804 also includes a plurality of ribs 2933. The rib 2933 is connected to the barrel portion 216 of the cover 102.
The cam 2804 is housed in a slot (not shown) formed on the inner surface of the
Rotates together with the cover 102. Follower connector 2
901 is locked to one of the joints 212 and 214 of the wireless telephone main body 104, so that the follower 2802 does not rotate even if the cover 102 moves between the open position and the closed position.

The spring 2806 is made of metal and is formed into a spiral shape. During assembly of the hinge parts, the spring 2806 is placed on the follower shaft 2905 and coupled between the cam 2804 and the lip 2923 of the spring retaining tooth 2921 of the follower shaft 2905. In a preferred embodiment, a first friction washer 2808 is disposed between the flat ring surface 2925 of the cam 2804 and one end of the spring 2806, and a second friction washer 2810 is disposed between the other end of the spring 2806 and the spring retaining teeth. 2921 and a lip 2923. Friction washers 2808, 2810 minimize wear and breakage of cam 2804 and spring retaining teeth 2921 while radiotelephone cover 102 rotates between the open and closed positions.

When the individual hinge components are assembled as described above, the assembly 2800 becomes a self-contained component, which can be sold off-the-shelf or can be incorporated directly into a wireless telephone during manufacture. When assembled into the phone during manufacture, the hinge assembly 2800, as shown in FIG.
It is arranged inside the barrel section 216 of the wireless telephone cover 102. As shown, follower connector 2901
Is housed in one of the joints 214 of the phone body and is locked therein to prevent the follower 2802 from rotating even when the phone cover 102 is opened and closed. At the opposite end of the follower, a second friction washer 2810 contacts a retaining shoulder 218 formed inside barrel 216. As described above, the rib 2933 formed on the outer surface of the cam 2804
Is stored in a groove (not shown) inside the barrel 216, so that the cam 2804 rotates with the cover 102 when the cover 102 is opened and closed. When the cover 102 rotates between the open position and the closed position, the cam 2804 causes the follower body 2903 to rotate.
Of the follower body 29
03 tab 2913 (only one shown)
Cam 2 from one valley 2913 (or detent part)
804 moves to the adjacent valley 2931 (detent part). As the cover 102 moves from the open position to the closed position, the cam ridges 2929 rotate past the ends 2914 of the tabs 2913 to close the cover 102 with a spring. Similarly, when the cover 102 moves from the closed position to the open position, the cam peak 292
9 rotates in the opposite direction beyond end 2914 of tab 2913 to spring open cover 102. With this function, the cover 102 can be easily opened and closed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made in the device of the present invention and in the construction of the device without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a foldable wireless telephone in a closed position, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the foldable wireless telephone of FIG. 1 in an open position, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an assembled hinge constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the hinge assembly shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the wireless telephone shown in FIG. 1 taken along a rotation axis.

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of a known wireless telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2800 Hinge assembly 2802 Follower 2808, 2810 Friction washer 2804 Cam 2806 Spring 2812 Rod 2929 Cam crest 2931 Cam valley 2933 Rib

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A hinge assembly comprising: a follower; a cam rotatably coupled to the follower; and a spring coupled to one end of the cam and wound on a segment of the follower. . 2. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein said follower comprises: a connector; a body; and an elongated shaft. 3. The hinge assembly according to claim 2, wherein said shaft comprises a three-dimensional portion and a hollow portion defining a plurality of spring retaining teeth. 4. The hinge assembly according to claim 2, wherein said connector forms a Y-shaped protrusion. 5. The hinge according to claim 2, wherein said follower body comprises a cylindrical portion having a flat bottom surface and a top surface having a plurality of tabs fixedly connected thereto. assembly. 6. The hinge assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of spring retaining teeth forms a lip at an end of said tooth. 7. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first friction washer surrounding said follower and disposed between said cam and a first end of said spring. 8. The hinge assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a second friction washer surrounding said follower and coupled to a second end of said spring. 9. The hinge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of tabs are two. 10. The hinge according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of tabs forms a linear surface and a curved surface.
assembly. 11. A wireless communication device having a body and a cover: a follower; a cam having a flat ring surface and a surface shaped into a contour having peaks and valleys,
A hinge assembly, comprising: a cam rotatably coupled to the follower; and a spring coupled to one end of the cam and wound on a segment of the follower. 12. The wireless communication device according to claim 11, wherein said follower is constituted by a body forming a flat ring surface having a plurality of tabs integrally formed thereon. 13. The rotation of the cover from an open position to a closed position relative to the apparatus body causes the cam to rotate about the follower so that the ridge of the cam exceeds the end of the tab. 13. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cover is moved by a spring and the cover is closed by a spring. 14. The rotation of the cover from a closed position to an open position relative to the apparatus body causes the cam to rotate about the follower so that the ridge of the cam exceeds the end of the tab. 13. The wireless communication device according to claim 12, wherein the cover is moved to open the cover with a spring. 15. The cam rotates by rotation of the cover from an open position to a closed position with respect to the apparatus main body,
13. The wireless communication device according to claim 12, wherein the tab of the follower is moved from one detent position of the cam to an adjacent detent position of the cam. 16. A radiotelephone comprising a body, a cover, and a hinge assembly coupled to the body and the cover for joining the body and the cover, the hinge assembly comprising: a follower; a flat ring surface. A cam that is rotatably coupled to the follower; and a cam that is rotatably coupled to the follower and that is wound on a segment of the follower. A wireless telephone, comprising: a spring;